James Broughton, a multifaceted individual, was a renowned American poet and poetic filmmaker, whose creative endeavors were deeply rooted in the San Francisco Renaissance, a cultural movement that laid the groundwork for the influential Beat poets.
Beyond his literary pursuits, Broughton was an integral part of the Radical Faeries, a group that celebrated individuality and free-spiritedness, and he also held a membership with The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, where he served the community under the moniker Sister Sermonetta.
Broughton's work was quintessentially Californian, reflecting his surroundings and the juxtaposition of the state's rugged wilderness and its urban, refined culture. His artistic expressions often explored the boundaries between the untamed and the refined, the masculine and the feminine, and the physical and the spiritual, all set against the ever-present backdrop of the Pacific Ocean's crashing waves.
In his own words, Broughton acknowledged that his understanding of poetry was largely shaped by his experiences with music and magic, rather than traditional literature, suggesting a deep appreciation for the emotive and mystical aspects of art.
